Obama hosts GOP leaders for lunch, find "common ground" on education, free trade

[Bluebear]

President Obama hosted prominent members of the GOP for lunch yesterday in an effort to improve bipartisan relationships in an increasingly polarized government.

Speaker of the House John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy met with the President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Chief of Staff William M. Daley for an hour to discuss national issues, particularly federal spending in the economy. After Obama’s private lunch last Friday with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, it seems the president is attempting to win Republicans over through measures of goodwill.

Although no conclusive decisions were made (duh), both sides “felt” that the meeting was meaningful and helped establish some common ground (but only really over free-trade agreements with South Korea, Panama, and Columbia).

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also said that the parties, “agreed education continues to be one area where Democrats and Republicans can and should work together.”

http://nyulocal.com/national/2011/02/10/finding-common-ground-at-obamas-lunch-with-the-gops/

[NYCGirl]

1. I'm disappointed. I was hoping he'd throw food at them,

spit in their hair and throw them out of the room.

[Bluebear]

3. Be grateful he didn't actually do the serving. nt

[NYCGirl]

5. I forgot the sarcasm smilie. NT

[PSPS]

2. Birds of a feather ... flock together ...

Burma Shave!

[arcane1]

4. Free-trade agreements can kiss my ass

There, I said it. If that's the common ground, then to hell with it.

[Rageneau]

6. More change you can believe in?

I believe it, but I don't like it.

[RedCloud]

7. Boner spoke for two seconds about what the New GOP House has planned.

Cut taxes. (Said with shit eating grin to hide ten years of same shit being said with no results)

[Newest Reality]

8. Screw the, so-called FREE trade

The pretty, linguistic mask fell off of that load of crap.

Peak everything indicates that localization and community-based trade would do more for those who are not members of the high and holy, privileged class. I would hope that more people become aware and skeptical about catch-phrases that imply a common benefit when they translate into: "We want you to accede to more wealth for us and much less for you!"

Economic policies today are a form of parasitism with a side of massive, systemic exploitation. Predatory parasites are incapable of forming symbiotic relationships with their hosts.

[Orsino]

9. A room full of fail. n/t

[Bluebear]

10. And how.

[xchrom]

11. oy. nt